Construction and demolition is now one of the biggest sources of waste in the world. By 2025, the annual volume of construction waste generated globally is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons.[1] In the U.S. alone, 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris were generated in 2018, more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste.[2]

The challenge lies not only in sheer volume, but in the complexity of construction materials. Non-concrete waste material––such as wood, drywall, asphalt shingles and tile––often have plasticizers (chemicals that make materials more flexible and easier to mold), trace or heavy metals and polychlorinated compounds in them, making it hard to recover those materials for their next lives. Furthermore, when those materials end up in landfills, they can leach those toxic chemicals into arable land and waterways––where they leave lasting environmental consequences.

Mycocycle, a biotechnology startup, found a solution to help address this complex challenge, inspired by fungi. Their patent-pending process improves the natural functions of fungi to transform construction waste into low-carbon raw materials for the built environment. Within a matter of weeks, their technology can turn organic waste from the built environment––such as carpet fiber and tires––into MycoFIBER©, MycoFILL© and MycoFOAM©, all raw materials that can replace virgin-derived materials.

Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group saw a key opportunity in Mycocycle’s technology, a solution that reimagined how materials can be recovered and kept in circulation. This aligned with Closed Loop Ventures Group’s focus on deploying early-stage funding to breakthrough circular solutions for foundational materials that underpin and influence vital sectors of the economy––from water and minerals to polymers and organics. Mycocycle’s solution to recover organic waste in the built environment unlocks new possibilities for circularity across a major industry.

Last year, Closed Loop Ventures Group led Mycocycle’s Series Seed extension to help address the growing challenge of construction waste––with participation from US Venture, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity INVENT fund, and existing investor TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good.

Since then, over the past 10 months, the Mycocycle team has continued to impress––making significant progress on processing cost reductions and signing exclusivity agreements with major multinational companies for certain product categories. They are demonstrating that not only are their products not harboring the toxic chemicals of their inputs, but they are exhibiting significant performance improvements––in strength, elasticity and more––from the virgin-derived construction products they’re replacing.

Today, the team continues to operate in the south of Chicago––in a space nearly five times the size of the one they were working in over a year ago. And they are filling orders, using mycelium to transform organic waste from the built world into reusable, bio-based ingredients. Those ingredients are going into non-recoverable plastics, replacing food-grade fillers like corn stover, for which higher and better uses exist in biomanufacturing. They are also going into turf applications, replacing materials that have been outlawed in some geographies because of excessive microplastic shedding that pollutes airways and waterways. With products that are both cost competitive against the incumbents and gross margin accretive for the business, Mycocycle is on a path to scale that has already unlocked significant reductions in their processing costs––and there is still room for growth.

A big part of how Closed Loop Ventures Group invests is by identifying founders and leadership teams who balance a “no quitting” attitude with the detail orientation and the project management expertise to move the needle on tough challenges. Joanne Rodriguez, Founder & CEO of Mycocycle, and Colin Litow, COO of Mycocycle, exemplify these characteristics, creating a strong foundation for their team through its next phase of growth.

Today’s reality is that the built environment is still in the early stages of bringing circular principles to bear in the lion’s share of applications. Asynchronous design and demolition processes make it challenging to identify reuse and next life opportunities for materials, and the lifecycle of a building is long enough that it’s rare for an organization to think about disassembly and deconstruction at the time of design. Even if they were, less than 2% of the building stock is new each year.[3] Much more focus is needed on managing renovation and retrofit processes––not just tracking, but on finding new homes for the materials once they’re removed.

Mycocycle is a core part of the solution, as are the companies exploring opportunities to maintain or reduce costs while using recovered materials as inputs into their products. Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group is excited to continue to work with the Mycocycle team and those across the manufactured world as they lay the groundwork for a more circular future for the built environment.

About Closed Loop Ventures Group at Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The firm is comprised of three key businesses that create a platform for systems change: an investment group managing venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies, Closed Loop Capital Management; an innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and an operating group, Closed Loop Builders.

The firm’s venture capital strategy, the Closed Loop Ventures Group, has been investing early-stage capital into companies developing breakthrough circular solutions for foundational materials that underpin and significantly influence a wide array of vital sectors of the economy. These materials include organics, minerals, polymers and water. Closed Loop Ventures Group partners with founders and companies who rethink how products are designed, manufactured, consumed and recovered, with the shared vision of reimagining supply chains and eliminating waste. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp.

To learn about the Closed Loop Ventures Group and apply for funding, visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

 About Mycocycle

Mycocycle, Inc. is a nature-inspired and woman-owned biotechnology startup that leverages fungi to transform industrial waste into reusable materials. Founded in 2018, the company drives circularity in the construction supply chain and diverts waste from landfills. Mycocycle blends lab-cultivated fungi with debris at the point of waste generation to transform waste into new raw materials. To learn more, visit http://www.mycocycle.com.

[1] Source: Construction Dive.

[2] Source: Environmental Protection Agency.

[3] Source: https://www.usgbc.org/articles/existing-buildings-99

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

February 20, 2025, New York, NY – Today, Closed Loop Partners’ portfolio company, Sage Sustainable Electronics (“Sage”), announces their acquisition of IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) company, Cascade Asset Management (“Cascade”). Cascade is a longstanding leader in the IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) industry, providing hardware asset lifecycle management, reuse, refurbishment and disposition services. Following its acquisition of Cascade, Sage Sustainable Electronics becomes one of the largest pure ITAD service providers in the United States.

The acquisition takes place amidst increasing demand to bring valuable electronics––and their critical mineral components––back into circulation for reuse in domestic supply chains in the U.S. The acquisition accelerates Sage’s path to becoming the leading platform within the ITAD industry, servicing major corporations through IT asset recovery and lifecycle extension. The acquisition was completed through Closed Loop Partners’ buyout private equity group focused on buying and building platforms to advance a circular economy.

Closed Loop Partners first joined forces with Sage in 2023 as a majority shareholder in the company, aiming to accelerate the company’s growth and strengthen its position as a leading provider of sustainable ITAD services in North America. Since then, Sage has been at the forefront of advancing a circular economy for electronics. The company provides secure reuse and recovery solutions to businesses seeking to sustainably dispose of their IT assets.

Today, Sage faces an evolving IT industry. Responding to pressures for improved materials recovery and cost efficiency, device lifecycles are being extended, with an average refresh cycle by IT departments of two years for smart phones, four years for laptops and five years for printers. Amidst increasing demand for services to extend the lifecycle of electronic devices, Sage completed its acquisition of Cascade, bolstering capabilities including de-manufacturing and reuse, and increasing reusability yield.

“Cascade is among the most respected IT Asset Disposition companies in the industry, bringing over two decades of experience and a comprehensive suite of electronics recovery solutions that complement Sage’s growing platform,” said Bob Houghton, CEO of Sage Sustainable Electronics. “This marks an important milestone for Sage, as we accelerate progress toward increased market reach and scaled impact. We are thrilled to join forces with Cascade, an experienced operator in the industry, expanding our platform to keep more electronics in circulation across industries.”

Founded in 1999, Cascade brings over 25 years of experience as an industry-leading IT Asset Disposition company, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company’s services include reuse, refurbishment, de-manufacturing, recycling and resale, providing additional scale, capabilities and human resources to Sage’s platform. Cascade brings in a strong customer base in the healthcare, manufacturing and technology sectors, creating opportunities to advance circularity across more industries. With facilities in Wisconsin, Indiana and Florida, Cascade further expands Sage’s national footprint, deepening exposure in the Midwest and providing new exposure in the Southeast.

“We are proud to join forces with Sage Sustainable Electronics, growing their platform as one of the largest pure IT Asset Disposition service providers in the U.S.,” said Neil Peters-Michaud, Founder & CEO of Cascade. “Our aligned mission, complementary services and geographic footprint accelerate shared goals to transform the ITAD industry and meet growing demand for electronics recovery across industries. Together, we can reach more markets, laying the groundwork for greater impact.”

Closed Loop Partners’ buyout private equity group employs a buy-and-build strategy to partner with companies and scale platforms and enabling technologies across plastics & packaging, organics, circular technology, the built environment and textiles. The group aims to develop, accelerate and modernize circular supply chains and recycling & reuse infrastructure. The investment to support Sage’s acquisition of Cascade builds on Closed Loop Partners’ robust portfolio of investments to advance circularity for electronics––one of the firm’s key focus areas, alongside packaging, textiles, organics and more. Closed Loop Partners’ broader portfolio of investments in electronics circularity spans IT asset management and disposition, disassembly and remanufacturing, collection and reuse, and end-of-life electronics recycling.

“Closed Loop Partners is proud to back Sage Sustainable Electronics’ acquisition of Cascade Asset Management. Cascade’s experience and reach strengthens Sage’s position as a leading IT Asset Disposition provider, with extensive capabilities to serve diverse locations and industries––from healthcare, to technology, to manufacturing,” said Jackson Pei, Managing Director and Co-head of Closed Loop Partners’ buyout private equity group. “We look forward to supporting Sage’s continued expansion to bring more electronics back in circulation, keeping them within domestic supply chains and out of landfills.”

Following the acquisition, Sage will continue to grow its services and geographic footprint, positioning the company for wider reach.

To learn more about Closed Loop Partners, please visit here.

To learn more about Sage Sustainable Electronics, please visit here.

To learn more about Cascade Asset Management, please visit here.

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The firm is comprised of three key businesses that create a platform for systems change: an investment group managing venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies, Closed Loop Capital Management; an innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and an operating group, Closed Loop Builders.

The firm’s lower mid-market buyout private equity investment strategy, the Closed Loop Leadership Group, seeks to make control investments in cash flowing businesses and enabling technologies to scale platforms that are fundamental to the circular economy. The Closed Loop Leadership Group is focused on areas including plastics & packaging, electronics, organics, the built environment, healthcare and the energy transition. With a buy-and-build strategy, the team brings active capital solutions, operating experience, circularity expertise and the strategic network of the Closed Loop Partners ecosystem to capture opportunities for growth and accelerate the circular economy. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp.

To learn about the Closed Loop Leadership Group, visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

About Sage Sustainable Electronics

Sage Sustainable Electronics, based in Columbus, Ohio is a leading provider of IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services, safely and securely refurbishing used IT assets for another life. Co-founded in 2014 by CEO Bob Houghton, Sage’s platform has expanded to include four national repurposing facilities across three states, processing nearly one million assets annually. Sage extends the useful life and increases the recovery value of IT assets for its clients, which include Fortune 100 companies across various industries, including finance, healthcare and defense.

About Cascade Asset Management

Cascade Asset Management, based in Madison, Wisconsin, has provided secure and environmentally responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services since 1999. Founded by Neil and Jessica Peters-Michaud, the company has since grown to operate full-scale refurbishment and demanufacturing facilities in Madison, Indianapolis, and Orlando. Cascade leverages its fleet of vehicles and field service professionals to offer an industry-leading secure chain of custody to transport assets efficiently from client locations to its certified processing facilities. The company has processed more than 115 million pounds of electronics from businesses, institutions, and individuals across the U.S.

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

Colorado, United States, January 28 2025 –– LAIIER, an innovative liquid leak detection solution provider for commercial and industrial buildings, announced today that it has raised US$4M in seed extension funding. Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group, the venture capital arm of the circular economy-focused firm, led the financing round, with participation from six other funds.

Existing investors Burnt Island Ventures and Mundi Ventures participated in the round, and were joined by new investors Bonaventure Capital, Carlisle Ventures, One Small Planet, and Virta Ventures.

 LAIIER focuses on solving the $19B+ annual problem of damage and downtime caused by liquid leaks in commercial buildings and industrial equipment. Traditional leak detection methods are inefficient, relying on manual inspections and resulting in slow response times of over 80 hours. This leads to significant financial losses, with properties experiencing between one and four large leak events annually. The severity of these leaks can vary widely, with costs escalating rapidly for severe cases and risks of expensive insurance claims and water loss increasing.

As real estate owner operators continue to seek more reliable leak detection that has a positive impact on both financial and environmental metrics, LAIIER’s technology offers scale, precision, and ROI that few other solutions on the market can match.

First launched in 2022, the company’s flagship water leak detection product, Severn WLD™, is currently protecting assets in a range of commercial and industrial buildings in North America and Europe, including those of Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies. The technology detects as little as two drops of water, offers flexible installation, precise sensitivity control, and utilizes long-range, low-power communication.

These advanced sensors, and the company’s cloud platform, LAIIER Cloud™, enable early detection of leaks and real-time monitoring, contributing to substantial water savings by alerting customers to issues before they escalate. By identifying leaks in their initial stages, LAIIER’s technology plays a crucial role in preventing extensive water damage to buildings and equipment, and helps mitigate the loss of water––an increasingly scarce and valuable commodity.

“This funding round represents a pivotal moment for LAIIER as we continue to accelerate our growth across North America and Europe,” said Matt Johnson, CEO & Co-founder of LAIIER. “Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group is renowned for its leadership in sustainable innovation and its deep expertise in scaling transformative technologies. Their prestigious reputation and proven track record in advancing successful businesses align perfectly with our mission to redefine leak detection in industrial and commercial markets. We are honored to have their support and partnership.”

The primary focus of the funding is to support the acceleration of LAIIER’s commercial growth globally, with a particular focus on North American expansion. The funds will also support the company’s continued investment in the development of its patented liquid leak detection technologies––both the commercially available water leak detection product, Severn WLD™; and the development of further liquid leak detection products for specific commercial and industrial applications.

“In an escalating climate crisis marked by increasing water scarcity and frequency of extreme weather events––from fires to flooding––solutions like LAIIER’s drive awareness and action around our relationship with water and industrial lubricants, and represent a crucial step toward less damage and a better experience with insurers when damages occur. LAIIER’s technology not only minimizes the risk of significant financial losses for asset owners, it can also prevent minor leaks from developing into major events, potentially conserving millions of gallons annually,” said Aly Bryan, Investor on Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group team. “We are proud to support LAIIER’s continued growth in North America, and look forward to working with their team to advance circularity across industrial applications and in the built world at scale.” 

About LAIIER

LAIIER solves the $19B+ annual problem of damage and downtime caused by liquid leaks in commercial buildings and industrial equipment. The company’s patented technologies deploy digital intelligence to detect and alert customers to leaking water, hydrocarbons, and more. Customers subscribe to the full-stack solution, which includes a unique sensor technology, connectivity and cloud services; providing a scale, precision, capability, and return on investment that competitors cannot match. LAIIER’s technologies are deployed with insurers, real estate owner operators, and system integrators in North America and Europe.

About the Closed Loop Ventures Group at Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The firm is comprised of three key businesses that create a platform for systems change: an investment group managing venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies, Closed Loop Capital Management; an innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and an operating group, Closed Loop Builders.

The firm’s venture capital strategy, the Closed Loop Ventures Group, has been investing early-stage capital into companies developing breakthrough circular solutions for foundational materials that underpin and significantly influence a wide array of vital sectors of the economy. These materials include organics, minerals, polymers and water. Closed Loop Ventures Group partners with founders and companies who rethink how products are designed, manufactured, consumed and recovered, with the shared vision of reimagining supply chains and eliminating waste. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp.

To learn about the Closed Loop Ventures Group and apply for funding, visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

PRESS CONTACTS

LAIIER

Laura Lilienthal, VP of Marketing, [email protected]

Closed Loop Partners

Bea Miñana, Communications Director, [email protected]

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision.

Executive endorsements of Closed Loop Capital Management are for illustrative purposes, designed to attract business development contacts, and should not be construed as a client or investor testimonial of Closed Loop Capital Management’s investment advisory services. All such endorsements are from current or former portfolio company leadership about Closed Loop Capital Management’s ability to provide services to their companies. Closed Loop Capital Management has not, directly or indirectly, paid any compensation to such individuals for their endorsements.

The Case Studies described on the Website are included as representative transactions to demonstrate assets to which Closed Loop Capital Management provides capital, however, are not representative of all Closed Loop Capital Management investments and are not necessarily reflective of overall results of any of Closed Loop Capital Management’s businesses. Investments in other businesses may have materially different results. Not all Closed Loop Capital Management investments had or will have similar characteristics or experiences as those included herein.

Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

In the last mile of today’s cold chain, standard single-use plastic encased gel packs are among the biggest sources of waste. With a lack of recovery pathways, the vast majority are discarded in landfill or end up contaminating recycling streams. The challenge lies in what the gel packs are made of: often single-use, non-curbside recyclable low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and a petroleum derivative for the gel.

Yet the growth of industries that are dependent on the cold chain––such as meal kit delivery services––are now facing upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility and “Truth in Labeling” regulations. With these shifts comes an increasing demand for less wasteful alternatives, and a new wave of sustainable cold chain solutions for perishables.

Enter Minus Works, a manufacturing and technology company developing circular solutions to shift the cold chain from linear to circular systems. In 2023, as the Series A startup was building products to reduce waste in the shipping of perishables, clear market demand brought the company to their next phase of growth. But to support this growth and disrupt the cold chain industry, the company required capital and a platform to scale its solution and impact.

Closed Loop Partners’ catalytic private credit group, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, having invested heavily in solutions across material collection, sortation, processing, end manufacturing and enabling technology, saw a key opportunity to advance circularity for this industry. Through its platform––an investment firm, innovation center and operating group––Closed Loop Partners is positioned to provide capital, expertise and access to an extensive network spanning entrepreneurs, industry experts, global companies, financial institutions and municipalities. The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, backed by several of the world’s largest retailers, corporate foundations, industry associations, materials science and consumer goods companies, deployed growth capital––particularly, catalytic debt financing––to accelerate Minus Works’ growth.

Minus Works’ solution aligned with the Infrastructure Group’s mandate. Their alternative gel packs, the BRiQ smarter coolant, used recycled content paper and a compostable gel interior, serving as a non-toxic, circular alternative to single-use plastic wrapped gel packs. By using a recycled fiber casing for their product, Minus Works created a new end market for recycled paper, driving the demand pull-through needed to improve the quality and quantity of materials kept in circulation across North America. Additionally, with freezing co-located at the gel manufacturing site, the company also reduces the required production space by 80%, in turn resulting in lower costs and emissions associated with transportation.

Following its investment, Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Group worked closely with Minus Works, exploring opportunities to refine the product and ensure its circularity at scale. Through its connection to Closed Loop Partners’ larger network, Minus Works was also able to identify alternative financing options for growth that could complement the debt financing they received from Closed Loop Partners.

With funding from Closed Loop Partners and other strategic investors, Minus Works positioned themselves for scale. One year later in October 2024, Minus Works announced their acquisition by Nordic Cold Chain Solutions, a leading provider of cold chain solutions, to further scale their technology and integrate their business within a larger platform of cold chain solutions. This acquisition represents not only a significant milestone in Minus Works’ growth and the important role of catalytic capital––but also signals the inherent value of businesses focusing on circular economy.

As more industries and supply chains demand greater resource efficiency and solutions that reduce waste and emissions, circular economy infrastructure and technologies will be pivotal. Catalytic capital will continue to play an important role in the growth of circular economy solutions. Its ability to accelerate and de-risk the development of high-impact projects and companies opens opportunities to attract additional forms of traditional financing that can bolster growth.

Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Group, building on Closed Loop Partners’ 10-year track record, continues to deploy a flexible mix of financing solutions––such as secured and unsecured loans and mezzanine debt, or catalytic equity financing––supporting companies, cities and projects that need access to large pools of capital. Through a platform of support, we aim to transform industries, keep more materials in circulation and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

To learn more about Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Group and apply for funding, visit here.

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision.

Executive endorsements of Closed Loop Capital Management are for illustrative purposes, designed to attract business development contacts, and should not be construed as a client or investor testimonial of Closed Loop Capital Management’s investment advisory services. All such endorsements are from current or former portfolio company leadership about Closed Loop Capital Management’s ability to provide services to their companies. Closed Loop Capital Management has not, directly or indirectly, paid any compensation to such individuals for their endorsements.

The Case Studies described on the Website are included as representative transactions to demonstrate assets to which Closed Loop Capital Management provides capital, however, are not representative of all Closed Loop Capital Management investments and are not necessarily reflective of overall results of any of Closed Loop Capital Management’s businesses. Investments in other businesses may have materially different results. Not all Closed Loop Capital Management investments had or will have similar characteristics or experiences as those included herein.

Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

Advancing electronics circularity has long been a core part of our investment focus at Closed Loop Partners. That has only accelerated as state and federal governments have increased focus on domestic manufacturing for electronics, right-to-repair laws and domestic sourcing of metals and minerals needed for the energy transition.

For servers specifically, we’re caught in between accelerated market growth and simultaneous accelerated obsolescence of these devices. An 8.3% compound annual growth rate is expected to result in a market size of $230B by 2034––at the same time, more existing technology continues to fall obsolete with generative AI dramatically driving up computing needs. With nearly 14 billion servers shipped in 2023, and the average life expectancy of a server down to three to four years,  processing and repurposing these assets for their next life in lower computational applications is critical.

In the discussion that follows, Rob Lawson-Shanks, Co-founder and CEO of Closed Loop Ventures Group portfolio company Molg, speaks with Aly Bryan, Investor on the Closed Loop Ventures team at Closed Loop Partners, about how Molg is supporting hyper-scalers––large-scale data centers that provide cloud computing and storage services to organizations and individuals––and their partners to improve recovery and utilization of these assets, ultimately making circularity stick in the electronics industry.

Rob: My name is Rob Lawson-Shanks and I’m the Co-founder and CEO of Molg.

Aly: And I’m Aly Bryan, an investor on the Closed Loop Ventures team at Closed Loop Partners.  I also have the distinct pleasure of serving on Molg’s Board of Directors. Rob, can you please start us off by sharing a bit about what you’re building at Molg?

Rob: At Molg, we support hyper-scalers, electronics manufacturers and their partners in advancing a circular economy for electronics––focusing today on servers and laptops, two key devices with increasing opportunity to recover materials at scale.

Aly: Why do you think circular economy is important to your partners?

Rob: Our customers are experiencing tremendous demand for computing ability––resulting in significant growth of their existing data center footprints. In many cases, our partners are growing so fast that they’re outpacing the supply of the very materials they need to bring new assets online. Molg helps our partners recover and reuse legacy assets––like CPUs, memory cards and more––that otherwise would need to be purchased new, helping to get new data centers online faster and saving hyper-scalers money in the process.

Aly: Today, Rob and I will explore how to identify strong partners and then work with them to scale, where grant dollars can help to support growth of the business, and ultimately tackle how he thinks we can make circularity stick in the electronics industry. Let’s get started!

On Identifying Strong Partners

Aly: Molg has a partnership with Sims Lifecycle Services as well as other hyper-scalers, and you have worked with Dell and other consumer electronics companies in the past few years. How did you go about identifying the right partners within each of those organizations? What makes them strong partners for you as you look to scale?

Rob: When identifying the right partners, we look for alignment in three key areas: shared mission, complementary capabilities and a commitment to innovation. For us, it’s not just about who can provide access to assets or resources but who is genuinely invested in advancing the circular economy.

Take Sims Lifecycle Services, for example. They’re at the forefront of electronics recycling and resource recovery. Their deep expertise and established infrastructure are critical for closing the loop on materials. It’s this operational strength that makes them an ideal partner for us to deploy our Microfactories with. They bring the logistical muscle, and we bring the cutting-edge technology to recover and repurpose high-value components efficiently, creating a seamless integration that amplifies impact.

On Sources of Funding

Aly: I’ve always been impressed with the way your team has balanced commercial arrangements with government funding, including your recently announced $5 million grant from the Department of Energy. How do you think about the role of grant dollars in supporting the growth of the business?

Rob: We’re in a once-in-a-generation moment where the government is investing unprecedented funding into reshaping industrial policy, bringing supply chains back to the U.S., and creating powerful opportunities for resilience and circularity in the process.

This $5 million grant directly accelerates our ability to scale our Microfactory technology, allowing us to create meaningful contributions to circularity at a much faster pace.

What’s even more exciting is that this project is being executed in partnership with several of our commercial partners, which means the impact of the Department of Energy’s investment is amplified through real-world deployments. It’s a collaborative approach that not only validates our technology but also sets the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient electronics supply chain in the U.S.

Aly: Earlier this year, you closed a $5.5 million Series Seed with participation from Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, ABB Ventures, Overture VC, Elemental Impact and of course us at Closed Loop Partners. What will this new capital help unlock for the business?

Rob: First, I want to extend a huge thank you to Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group for leading our Series Seed round and for your continued support. It’s been instrumental in getting us to this point. The funding from you and our incredible partners allows us to meet the rapidly growing demand from our customers who are increasingly prioritizing circularity.

The need for circular solutions is accelerating at an incredible pace, and the scale of the problem requires companies like ours to grow quickly to support this demand. For us, it was crucial to have backing from mission-aligned partners like Closed Loop Partners, who see not only the massive financial opportunity but also the transformative potential for creating circular supply chains.

On Commercial Contracts

Aly: I’d be remiss not to ask on behalf of all the other circular economy founders out there working to get their first commercial contracts over the line. What advice would you have for those founders on how to most effectively navigate those conversations?

Rob: These commercial partnerships are absolutely critical because the biggest impact on circularity comes from working with large companies that operate at a significant scale. To make meaningful change, you need to engage with Fortune 100 and 500 companies where your solutions can have the most transformative effect.

One piece of advice I would offer is to truly understand the mission and values of your potential partners. Early on, I found it invaluable to dig into their ESG reports and public statements to see what they’re prioritizing and where your solutions can align. It’s about finding that overlap between your goals and theirs, which often forms the basis of a strong partnership.

It’s also important to recognize that circularity is challenging and it’s a journey—there’s no single solution that will instantly make a company circular. It takes patience, empathy and an iterative approach. You have to be willing to work closely with your partners, especially understanding that it’s a give-and-take process as you incrementally build towards the larger, more holistic systems we all envision.

For me, it’s always been about approaching these contracts from a partnership mindset. Instead of just selling a product, focus on how you can co-create value and support each other through the inevitable challenges. That collaborative spirit is what will drive real progress and help you navigate those early conversations effectively.

On Making Circularity Stick

Aly: Last question! How can we make circularity stick in the electronics industry?

Rob: Well, first off, we could start by making things less sticky by not using glue and adhesives in electronic design! But on a more serious note, it’s really about forming strong partnerships across the entire ecosystem and pushing each other in our respective roles to make circularity the default way of doing things. We need manufacturers, users, recovery partners and second-life users all working together, challenging what’s possible, and continuously raising the bar on circularity until it’s just how we operate as an industry.

“Making Circularity Stick” is a collection of interviews with founders across the Closed Loop Ventures Group portfolio sharing their experiences of making circularity stick across industries. If you’re interested in connecting with the founders sharing their stories, please reach out to Aly Bryan at [email protected].

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision.

Executive endorsements of Closed Loop Capital Management are for illustrative purposes, designed to attract business development contacts, and should not be construed as a client or investor testimonial of Closed Loop Capital Management’s investment advisory services. All such endorsements are from current or former portfolio company leadership about Closed Loop Capital Management’s ability to provide services to their companies. Closed Loop Capital Management has not, directly or indirectly, paid any compensation to such individuals for their endorsements.

The Case Studies described on the Website are included as representative transactions to demonstrate assets to which Closed Loop Capital Management provides capital, however, are not representative of all Closed Loop Capital Management investments and are not necessarily reflective of overall results of any of Closed Loop Capital Management’s businesses. Investments in other businesses may have materially different results. Not all Closed Loop Capital Management investments had or will have similar characteristics or experiences as those included herein.

Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

November 13, 2024, New York, NY — Closed Loop Partners‘ Ventures Group announces its follow-on investment in Earthodic, a Brisbane-based biotechnology company creating recyclable bio-based coatings for paper packaging. This is Closed Loop Ventures Group’s second investment in Earthodic, supporting the company’s expansion into the U.S. The $4 million seed funding round was led by FTW Ventures, with participation from existing investors Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group, Tenacious Ventures and Investible, and new investors Circulate Capital, Queensland Investment Corporation, UniQuest Fund, Significant Capital Ventures, Branch Venture Group and Redstick Ventures.

The investment is taking place as more corporations demand packaging alternatives that reduce waste while maintaining performance. Today, most paper packaging uses petroleum-based plastic liners that help prevent leakage and maintain temperature but are typically discarded as waste. Closed Loop Ventures Group saw an opportunity to advance bio-based coatings that can enable better performance of existing paper packaging or products and unlock opportunities to switch from non-recoverable single-use plastics to recoverable bio-based alternatives.

Earthodic’s Biobarc™ is a water-resistant, repulpable and recyclable coating for paper packaging, offering a solution for brands and packaging manufacturers looking to transition away from wax and polymer film coatings to reduce plastic waste. Earthodic uses lignin––a byproduct of paper manufacturing that is often discarded or burned for energy––and reintegrates it into Biobarc™ to create a recyclable solution for paper packaging. The company is also pursuing third party certifications to ensure Biobarc™’s compostability at industrial composting facilities in the U.S., creating more potential end-of-life pathways for the material.

“This is a key milestone for Earthodic as we expand our reach into new geographic markets, and new paper packaging applications. Advancing a bio-based coating for paperboard can have a significant impact on plastic waste reduction,” says Anthony Musumeci, Co-founder and CEO of Earthodic. “Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group has been a key partner in our growth since they first invested in Earthodic. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with their team as we scale our solution and advance the circularity of packaging.”

Closed Loop Ventures Group’s investment in Earthodic advances the group’s mandate to deploy early-stage capital to founders and companies who rethink how products are designed, manufactured, consumed and recovered. Since Closed Loop Partners’ venture capital group launched in 2016, it has invested in over 40 companies advancing solutions that optimize supply chains and reduce reliance on fossil fuel extraction and landfilling. These range from packaging & plastic alternatives to safer chemistry and supply chain transparency to waste reduction solutions for food & agriculture, retail logistics, renewable energy, water reclamation, built environment and distributed manufacturing.

“Packaging waste comprises 30 percent of materials sent to landfill today, creating a significant challenge for brands and packaging manufactures looking to meet zero waste goals. Earthodic’s coating offers a circular solution for paper packaging that can help divert materials from landfill while maintaining the same performance capabilities brands have come to expect from their packaging solutions,” said Aly Bryan, Investor on the Closed Loop Ventures Group team at Closed Loop Partners. “Closed Loop Ventures Group is proud to have been among the first investors in Earthodic and we look forward to supporting their growth as they scale throughout the United States with their solution.”

With capital from its seed funding round, Earthodic will establish a second headquarters at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Innovation Center, situated near a pilot coating plant and testing facilities used extensively by the paper industry. Their main research & development hub will stay in Queensland, Australia. The company will deepen existing research & development partnerships with global leaders in paper packaging while continuing to sell Biobarc™ into non-food contact packaging at scale, as a superior solution to traditional wax and petroleum-based coatings.

This will create more opportunities for circularity across the packaging, food and consumer goods industries.
If you are interested in learning more about Closed Loop Partners’ Ventures Group, please visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

If you are interested in learning more about Earthodic, please visit www.earthodic.com.

About Earthodic
Earthodic is on a mission to advance the global transition to a circular economy. We help companies within the paper industry and their customers adopt sustainable packaging solutions, mitigating packaging waste that ends up in landfill. Earthodic has created sustainable function barrier coatings that are certified 100% biobased carbon, to offer liquid water barrier and oil and grease resistance to paper-based packaging. Earthodic coatings utilize lignin, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, and are a drop-in solution for existing coating infrastructure. Established in 2022, Earthodic has operations across Australia and the USA.

To learn more, visit www.earthodic.com.

About Closed Loop Partners
Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The firm is comprised of three key businesses that create a platform for systems change: an investment group, Closed Loop Capital Management; an innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and an operating group, Closed Loop Builders. Closed Loop Capital Management manages venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies.
The firm’s venture capital strategy, the Closed Loop Ventures Group, has been investing early-stage capital into companies developing breakthrough solutions for the circular economy since 2016. Closed Loop Ventures Group’s portfolio includes companies developing leading innovations in material science, robotics, agritech, sustainable consumer products and advanced technologies that further the circular economy. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp.

To learn about Closed Loop Ventures Group, visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

April 17, 2024, New York, NY –– Circular economy-focused investment firm Closed Loop Partners announces the closing of a catalytic loan to Olyns, a technology and media company that engineered a new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solution to improve the collection, sortation and recycling of consumer packaging. The financing from Closed Loop Partners’ private credit arm, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, will support the manufacturing of Olyns’ Cubes––AI-powered reverse vending machines that collect and sort packaging materials, including food-grade plastic, glass and aluminum––and accelerate the expansion of Olyns’ consumer recycling infrastructure across the U.S.

Founded in 2019 in Silicon Valley, Olyns is increasing access to consumer recycling with an innovative technology solution that makes material collection efficient and scalable through a self-sustaining business model. Olyns’ AI-powered Cubes are a new take on reverse vending machines, where people deposit eligible beverage containers and receive cash deposits back electronically. Not only do Olyns’ Cubes provide rewards to incentivize participation and include a screen that can display media, but their machines also leverage AI, enabling them to rapidly learn to recognize new deposited products sold by brands at retailers across the country, as well as track deposit rates by product and brand. This is especially relevant amidst growing policy around materials recovery, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Olyns currently partners with top retailers and consumer goods brands to locate their Cubes in high traffic locations such as major supermarkets, big box stores, pharmacies and gas stations, ensuring recycling is convenient and advertisements are effective. By operating as both a consumer recycling network and digital out-of-home media network, Olyns is changing the economics of recycling.

Source: Olyns

Olyns not only has the opportunity to collect millions of containers per year, but also to improve material sortation to maintain the quality of the recycled materials. By using AI to identify and sort containers at the point of deposit into separate bins, Olyns minimizes the co-mingling and contamination common to traditional recycling. This results in industry-leading material recovery rates and bale quality, ensuring that more containers deposited can be made into new containers. The vast majority of the rPET collected in Olyns’ Cubes is food-grade and can be used as material for recycled bottles.

“The material quality of aluminum, PET and glass beverage containers collected by the Olyns reverse vending machines is some of the highest quality material Ming’s facilities receive from our customers,” said Jeff Donlevy, General Manager of Ming’s Recycling Corp, a current processor of Olyns CRV material. “Mixed plastic material collected through co-mingled programs often can’t achieve the same quality standards, and significant amounts end up in landfill. Olyns’ technology minimizes co-mingling, and consistently achieves the food-grade quality material that plastic reclaimers want.”

As the Olyns network scales, it helps unlock a new supply of recyclable post-consumer plastic and aluminum, helping corporations meet their sustainable packaging goals and reducing their dependence on virgin plastic from non-renewable sources. As demand for food-grade rPET is anticipated to outpace supply by about three times by 2030, scaling solutions that can bolster supply of high-quality recycled content is critical. By expanding recycling access to more locations, Olyns’ Cube network collects and processes a growing portion of the estimated 4.6 billion pounds of unrecycled PET that would otherwise end up in landfill every year, closing the loop on food-grade PET and reducing carbon emissions that would result from the production of virgin plastic.

“Greater consumer access to recycling, more efficient material sortation and economically sound recycling systems are critical to recovering high-quality materials,” says Philip Stanger, Co-Founder and CEO of Olyns. “Since we installed our first Cube in California in 2020, user growth has been phenomenal, proving that when people have easy access to recycling, impact is magnified. While we started with collecting PET plastic, aluminum and glass beverage containers, we are looking to build our AI capacity to potentially expand collection for hard-to-recycle materials, such as films and flexibles. Closed Loop Partners’ financing will help us build the circular economy infrastructure that helps make recycling possible for more materials, and accessible to more communities.”

The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group has been providing flexible loans to projects that build out circular economy infrastructure and innovation in the United States for nearly 10 years. This includes robust recycling infrastructure equipment, as well as rapidly growing companies poised to scale circular solutions. The loan to Olyns underscores the potential of new innovative solutions and creates a significant opportunity to increase material collection in underserved areas, including states without deposit return schemes such as bottle bills. By producing a source-separated, clean stream of materials, Olyns also helps bolster the market for high-quality recyclables, looping more material back into the same or similar products.

“We see immense opportunity to finance rapidly growing technology innovations, alongside large-scale recycling infrastructure, to improve materials sortation and accelerate the circular economy in the U.S. Expanding the types of financing available in the market can help meet the distinct needs of innovators developing new circular solutions. Catalytic capital is a powerful tool, providing the foundation needed to accelerate further growth,” says Jennifer Louie, Managing Director and Head of the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group at Closed Loop Partners. “Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Group is proud to finance scalable and replicable solutions and provide access to the Closed Loop Partners ecosystem to support their growth. We are thrilled to partner with Olyns, as they disrupt material collection and advance more circular supply chains for valuable packaging materials.”

Moving forward, Olyns looks to further scale its solution, partnering with key brands to expand to new locations and increase collection and recovery of more materials, reducing reliance on natural resource extraction and driving forward a circular economy.

If you are interested in learning more about Olyns, visit here. If you are interested in applying for funding from the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, learn more about Closed Loop Partners’ catalytic capital strategy here.

About Olyns

Olyns innovates at the nexus of retail media and recycling, connecting people to recycling and brands to customers. Founded in 2019 in Silicon Valley, Olyns’ pioneering ecosystem includes the Cube, an AI-powered reverse vending machine that provides self-serve beverage container recycling to consumers and includes a 55-inch screen to display advertising. Olyns partners with top retailers and consumer goods brands to locate Cubes in high traffic locations such as major supermarkets, big box stores, pharmacies, and gas stations, ensuring recycling is convenient and advertisements are effective. By operating as both a consumer recycling network and digital out-of-home media network, Olyns is changing the economics of recycling. With its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and sort containers at point of deposit, Olyns minimizes the co-mingling and contamination common to traditional recycling and unlocks a valuable new supply of food-grade recycled plastic.

Olyns is on a mission to inspire people to recycle, stop the depletion of the earth’s resources, and accelerate the shift to a circular packaging economy. Learn more at www.olyns.com

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments: its investment arm, Closed Loop Capital Management, managing venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies; its innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and its operating group, Closed Loop Builders.

The firm’s catalytic private credit arm, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, provides a mix of flexible financing solutions to support a range of circular economy projects, companies, infrastructure and enabling technologies. The Infrastructure Group deploys catalytic capital, which seeks to accelerate and de-risk the development of high-impact projects and companies. Areas of strategic investment include: providing below-market rate loans to finance circular infrastructure, providing catalytic financing to increase recovery of hard-to-recycle plastics and PET bottles, and financing and deploying small-scale, modular materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to increase recycling in communities with no or limited access to recycling.

Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp. Learn more at closedlooppartners.com.

Disclaimer

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Partners or any company in which Closed Loop Partners or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Partners’ views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision.

December 6, 2023, New York, NY –– Circular economy-focused investment firm Closed Loop Partners announces the closing of its loan to Minus Works, a manufacturing and technology company developing circular solutions for the cold chain. Minus Works builds products to reduce waste in the shipping of perishable products, primarily through sustainable gel packs and freezing process innovations. Financing was deployed through Closed Loop Partners’ catalytic private credit arm, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, to support the company’s expansion to meet growing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic encased gel packs, and create a new end market for recycled paper.

Founded in 2020 and based in Farmingdale, New York, Minus Works is disrupting the cold chain with their BRiQ smarter coolant, a sustainable, high-performance gel pack and freezing process for the shipping of perishables, which aims to reduce single-use plastic waste and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain. Made with recycled content paper, as well as a compostable gel interior, BRiQ serves as a non-toxic, circular alternative to single-use plastic wrapped gel packs. With freezing co-located at the gel manufacturing site, Minus Works also reduces required production space by 80%, and reduces costs and emissions associated with transportation.

Today’s standard gel packs are the biggest source of waste in the last mile cold chain, with the vast majority discarded into landfill, or contaminating the recycling stream. Most gel packs are made with single-use, non-curbside recyclable low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and use a petroleum derivative for the gel. Demand for less wasteful alternatives continues to increase as industries that are dependent on the cold chain––such as meal kit delivery services––continue to grow, and perishable packaging materials are expected to shift amidst upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility and “Truth in Labeling” regulations.

The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group has been providing flexible loans to projects that build out circular economy infrastructure and innovation in the United States for nearly 10 years. The loan to Minus Works builds on previous investments in circular economy infrastructure and technologies, including investments in the packaging manufacturing space, such as TemperPack, a leading developer and manufacturer of sustainable packaging materials. The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group aims to advance projects and solutions that keep valuable recyclable materials in circulation for longer, upgrade recycling infrastructure and strengthen end markets for recyclable material.

“Minus Works is accelerating circularity for an industry that has remained largely unchanged for half a century. We are excited about their growth potential, as well as the role that we expect the company to play as a new end market for recycled fiber markets, while reducing waste, emissions and fresh water use in the cold chain industry,” says Jennifer Louie, Managing Director and Head of the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group at Closed Loop Partners. “Closed Loop Partners’ Infrastructure Group is thrilled to partner with Minus Works and to have them as a portfolio company. The company’s values mirror that of other mission-aligned organizations that we have invested in who are committed to advancing innovations and infrastructure to support a circular economy.”

“We at Minus Works see immense opportunity for building new products and introducing new processes that will disrupt the resource-intensive cold chain industry and create more circular supply chains,” says Ben Shore, Founder and CEO of Minus Works. “Since our founding, we have been working on sustainable innovations and have seen demand grow across industries, from the perishable food and meal kit delivery space to life sciences. Our partnership with Closed Loop Partners is a milestone in our continued growth. We look forward to working alongside experts in the circular economy who share our vision for less waste and a positive future for the planet.”

If you are interested in applying for funding from the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, learn more about Closed Loop Partners’ catalytic capital strategy here.

About Minus Works
Minus Works is an American manufacturing and technology company focused on bringing innovative products to the cold chain industry, including sustainable, high-performance coolant for the shipping of perishables. Learn more about Minus Works here https://minusworks.com/

About Closed Loop Partners
Closed Loop Partners is a leading investment firm advancing the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments: its investment arm, Closed Loop Capital Management; its innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and its operating group, Circular Services. Closed Loop Capital Management manages venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies. Closed Loop Partners’ catalytic private credit arm, the Closed Loop Infrastructure Group, provides a flexible mix of financing solutions to support a range of circular economy projects, companies, infrastructure and enabling technologies. The Closed Loop Infrastructure Group deploys catalytic capital, which seeks to accelerate and de-risk the development of high-impact projects and companies. Areas of strategic investment include: providing below-market rate loans to finance circular infrastructure, providing catalytic financing to increase recovery of hard-to-recycle plastics and PET bottles, and financing and deploying small-scale, modular materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to increase recycling in communities with no or limited access to recycling. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp. closedlooppartners.com.

Disclaimer:

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

At Closed Loop Partners, we focus on investing in the circular economy––advancing solutions that reduce waste through material reduction, alternative materials, reuse and end-of-life solutions like recycling. Through our work, we help reduce the 45% of all emissions derived from the way we make and use products––and where relevant to materials management, we also address the 55% of emissions that are tied to energy production.

Our most recent investment through the Closed Loop Ventures Group in Boston-based company Found Energy embodies this crossover between energy production and materials management. Found Energy upcycles contaminated aluminum into clean hydrogen fuel, while also returning the aluminum to its pre-processing state, creating a fully circular loop for the material. By treating aluminum scrap with a catalyst and then activating it with water, Found Energy creates 1) energy in the form of hydrogen and steam and 2) alumina trihydrate (ATH), a raw material used to manufacture aluminum.

The process unlocks two major benefits:

• Onsite Energy Generation: Any equipment manufacturer, processor or even materials recovery facility can produce their own on-site, clean hydrogen fuel and steam using energy dense aluminum as a means of energy storage. On-site production helps alleviate the challenge of expensive hydrogen transportation and storage.
• Upcycling: Aluminum alloys otherwise destined for downcycling may be reintroduced into the supply chain as alumina trihydrate that can then be processed into virgin-grade aluminum.

Why does aluminum recovery matter?

Aluminum is already one of the most abundantly recycled metals on the planet and can be recycled many times over. More than other classes of recyclables, there is broad consumer participation in aluminum recovery (by recycling cans), and the prevalence of aluminum as a lightweight structural element in manufactured goods (such as automobiles and appliances) means that ample end-of-life aluminum is processed every year. In fact, 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Recycled aluminum only takes ~5% of the energy needed to make new aluminum and reduces the need to mine for bauxite––the most common ore needed for aluminum.

However, while recycling rates for aluminum are generally high, they differ substantially by product, alloy and region, ranging from as low as 20% to as high as 80% for some packaging products. We have learned that in the depths of smelters, aluminum recycling is limited to recovery within established alloy classes (meaning two or more metals or a metal with another non-metallic addition). Given that aluminum is 2x more energy dense than diesel and 5x more energy dense than methanol, there is value in finding opportunities to keep more aluminum in circulation as both a material and energy source.

The main challenge with recovering scrap aluminum is removing tramp elements, which cannot be separated easily by current smelting processes given the high melting temperature of aluminum (660° C). This means contaminated aluminum is often downcycled or ends up in landfills.

Found Energy has discovered a clean energy solution for scrap aluminum, working at the intersection of circular economy principles and the clean energy transition. After building this technology for years during his time at MIT and motivated by his work at NASA, co-founder and CEO Peter Godart brought Found Energy to life in 2022.

Unlike other energy solutions we have seen, Found Energy considered end-of-life from the very beginning of their development process, while using scrap aluminum as a wholly recoverable material source for energy generation plus storage. We fully support the transition to renewable feedstocks for clean energy, while recognizing that the structures required to facilitate clean energy transfers, like solar panels and wind turbines, often utilize extractive or single-use resources that frequently end up in landfill after they are decommissioned. We believe that it is better both economically and ecologically to keep these materials in circulation, and up until recently, had yet to find an energy technology that is inherently circular––inclusive of the materials used in the machinery and the renewable feedstock.

We were impressed with the elegance of a solution that uses a ubiquitous metal as a novel hydrogen source, is highly mobile, and can be distributed. Distributed assets will continue to be a priority in places where heavy materials would otherwise be transported long distances, or where permitting and absence of transmission infrastructure can keep manufacturing operations from scaling up their energy loads as needed.

To create a truly waste-free future for renewable energy, we must support the circularity of materials, alongside clean energy innovation. Reducing carbon through circular processes like material recovery and re-manufacturing is critical to reaching our CO2e mitigation goals and living in an ecosystem that is resilient to further climate shocks. Found Energy is helping pave the path forward.

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is a leading investment firm advancing the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments: its investment arm, Closed Loop Capital Management; its innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and its operating group, Circular Services. Closed Loop Capital Management manages venture capital, buyout private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies. The firm’s venture capital group, the Closed Loop Ventures Group, has been investing early-stage capital into companies developing breakthrough solutions for the circular economy since 2016. The Closed Loop Ventures Group’s portfolio includes companies developing leading innovations in material science, robotics, agritech, sustainable consumer products and advanced technologies that further the circular economy. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp. closedlooppartners.com.

About Found Energy

Found Energy is a Boston-based company building rechargeable aluminum fuel power systems aimed at eliminating carbon emissions from heavy industrial applications ranging from industrial heating (7% of global CO2 emissions) to maritime shipping (3% of global CO2 emissions). Building off technology developed at MIT that enables metallic aluminum to split water, our energy delivery systems safely generate hydrogen and/or industrial heat on-site at >5x the volumetric energy density of liquid hydrogen, >3x that of methanol and ammonia, and >25x that of Li-ion batteries. By integrating storage, transport, and generation into a single package, our technology solves some of the biggest pain points in renewable energy transmission and storage.

Disclaimer:

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management’s views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, circular economy-focused investment firm Closed Loop Partners joins forces with leading IT Asset Management and Disposition provider, Sage Sustainable Electronics, as a majority shareholder in the company. The investment from Closed Loop Partners’ buyout private equity fund, the Closed Loop Leadership Fund, is taking place at a critical time, amidst the rapid growth of electronic waste, increasing corporate commitments around e-waste management and rising demand for increased transparency and data security in the IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) industry. The strategic partnership aims to accelerate the growth of Sage Sustainable Electronics and strengthen its position as a leading provider of sustainable ITAD services in North America.

Since its founding in 2014 by co-founder Jill Vaské and CEO Bob Houghton, Sage Sustainable Electronics has been at the forefront of advancing a circular economy for electronics, providing reuse and recovery solutions to businesses seeking to sustainably dispose of their IT assets.

Today the company’s clients include Fortune 100 companies across various industries, including finance, healthcare and defense. With Closed Loop Partners as a majority shareholder, Sage will have access to additional resources, a deep ecosystem of companies advancing the circular economy, and expertise to further enhance its services and expand its reach.

Houghton, a leading expert in the ITAD industry said of the partnership, “we’re absolutely thrilled to join forces with Closed Loop Partners. This marks a significant step towards advancing the circular economy within the ITAD industry. First of all, they truly share our commitment to sustainability and reuse. That, of course, is always first on our list. But secondly, this partnership enables us to further expand our reach and increase our impact.”

“Sage Sustainable Electronics’ work to safely increase reuse and proper disposition in the ITAD space is critical to ensuring valuable materials, such as IT assets, do not end up wasted in landfills or the natural environment. E-waste represents a massive loss of value that we can recover through more efficient reuse and recycling,” said Karine Khatcherian, Managing Director and Co-Head of the Closed Loop Leadership Fund at Closed Loop Partners. “We are proud to partner with the Sage team and support their continued growth as one of the leading IT Asset Disposition providers in North America.”

With a differentiated focus on electronics reuse, Sage Sustainable Electronics is committed to achieving the highest possible Reusable Yield® ratio for IT Assets. Coined by Houghton, the ratio determines a company’s IT asset carbon reduction impact. On average, Sage Sustainable Electronics securely refurbishes or ethically recycles nearly one million devices per year on behalf of its clients. Extending the lifespan of electronics not only reduces waste, but addresses climate impact and helps provide access to electronics for more people.

“Reusable Yield is the percentage of everything sent to an ITAD provider that is appropriately triaged, tested, refurbished and securely sent to another user. The higher your Reusable Yield, the higher the financial, environmental and social benefit on your retired assets. It’s what we live by here at Sage,” said Houghton.

In 2022, Sage sent 58% of its total processed devices to a second life, mitigating approximately 300 million pounds of CO2e annually according to the EPA’s Electronic Environmental Benefits Calculator. This is a result of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by preventing the creation of a new device. The impact associated with manufacturing a new device is significant––in fact, approximately 80% of the environmental damage can be done by the time a brand-new device is manufactured.

“An overlooked source of climate risk is the emissions associated with creating a new product. Keeping used materials in circulation to reduce the need for new extraction and new product manufacturing is an important part of mitigating climate impact,” said Jackson Pei, Director at Closed Loop Partners’ Leadership Fund.

According to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Company, the biggest carbon culprit in the IT sector is end-user devices. In fact, the study found end user devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets generate one and a half to two times more carbon than data centers when created. This is exacerbated by the fact that these devices are replaced much more often, with an average refresh cycle by IT departments of two years for smart phones, four years for laptops and five years for printers.

Proactive and sustainability-focused CIOs can decrease their carbon footprints by ensuring their employee devices are destined for a second life. Sage Sustainable Electronics is uniquely positioned to meet this need through their distinct focus on electronics reuse. With a team of industry pioneers who recognize the financial and environmental value of making ITAD programs more sustainable, Sage’s systems ensure that IT assets are efficiently and responsibly kept in circulation.

Today, Sage Sustainable Electronics is well positioned for further growth through their partnership with Closed Loop Partners. “The mission and impact of Sage holds firm from the day we started this work. The tailwinds around e-waste recovery today are only increasing, and this is just the beginning of what is possible,” said Houghton.

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments. Closed Loop Capital Management manages venture capital, buyout and catalytic private credit investment strategies on behalf of global corporations, financial institutions and family offices. The Center for the Circular Economy unites competitors and partners to tackle complex material challenges and implement systemic change to advance circularity. Circular Services employs innovative technology within reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and re-commerce solutions to improve regional economic and environmental outcomes, and build resilient systems that keep food & organics, textiles, electronics, packaging and more, in circulation and out of landfill or the natural environment. Closed Loop Partners is based in New York City and is a registered B Corp. For more information, please visit www.closedlooppartners.com.

About Closed Loop Leadership Fund

The Closed Loop Leadership Fund is Closed Loop Partners’ private equity fund, which closed in 2022. The fund focuses on investing in best-in-class circular business models across plastics and packaging, food and organics, technology, textiles, built environment and the energy transition.

To learn about the Closed Loop Leadership Fund, visit Closed Loop Partners’ website.

About Sage Sustainable Electronics

Sage Sustainable Electronics, based in Columbus, Ohio also has a plant in Reno, Nevada. Founded in 2014, co-founders, Bob Houghton and Jill Vaské, are ITAD sustainability pioneers. As founders of Redemtech, their first venture, they defined best practices for the ITAD industry in security, asset management, and responsible recycling—including foundational support for the e-Stewards Certification program, the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher program, and the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling.  When they founded Sage in 2014, their combined ITAD expertise and unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability resulted in an ITAD company designed with sustainability at the forefront. Their mission is to serve the following (and in this order): the planet, customers, colleagues, communities, suppliers, and shareholders.

For interviews contact

Alaina Shearer
[email protected]
614-313-8365

SOURCE SAGE SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS LLC

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